Challenges of women leaders in South African schools : overcoming barriers through transformational leadership

Abstract

This study explores the challenges of women leaders in South African schools. It was motivated by the discovery in several studies that although women dominate the South African education sector, they are heavily underrepresented in leadership, particularly at the level of the school principal. Therefore, it was vital to explore the factors that could serve as challenges for women to ascend to leadership positions. Using the Gauteng Province Department of Education in South Africa as the case study, this study adopted a qualitative, exploratory case study research approach. A triangulation of theories, namely feminism, theory of change, and transformational leadership, was utilised to guide data search and analysis. Data sources were secondary sources as well as an empirical investigation through in-depth interviews and personal observations. Methodological limitations caused by Covid-19 included more costs on data and purchases of library material. The study found that women in the Gauteng Province Department of Education were largely absent from leadership positions. In addition, they faced a broad spectrum of challenges that made them either regret being in leadership positions or resign from these positions. This was confirmed in this study in which out of the six schools that were chosen as case studies, four had men as principals (67%) while only two schools had women principals (33%). Regarding deputy principals, three schools had women deputies while another three had male deputies. This study found that inordinate challenges existed that blocked women from assuming or retaining leadership roles. These challenges emerged from the country’s history of colonialism and apartheid; cultural and religious beliefs which sustain patriarchy; home-work conflicts; institutional factors, including glass-ceiling, coaching, networking, and mentorship challenges; personal factors, including a lack of self-confidence and poor self-image; education and training; inadequate support structures; absence of political will to address the plight of women employees; and unethical practices, including corruption, nepotism, and tribalism, among others. This study, thus, concluded that women leaders or those aspiring to leadership positions faced huge challenges in the Gauteng Province Department of Education. To deal with these challenges, a recommendation in this study proposes the implementation of transformational leadership. It posits that transformation, in terms of leadership, in the Gauteng Department of Education, needs to start at the department level before it can come down to the school level. Transforming the entire Gauteng Province Department of Education as part of the collective effort to eliminate the challenges women face in schools requires the collective support of everyone across the body from the national level. Most importantly, it requires political intervention. The thesis posits that radicalism, such as that pushed forward under feminism, particularly under radical feminism, is not likely to yield any results as both men and women will oppose it. They would blame it for seeking not only to disrupt society but also to disrupt their own lives by complicating the relationships between men and women. More research is needed on the productive levels of male versus women leaders in the Gauteng Province Department of Education. This can be measured in terms of pass rates or any other variables. Research is also needed on why the Department of Basic Education continues to make timid progress in gender representation in leadership positions while other departments are making some progress, although not very significant. In exploring these issues, it may be essential to change the research strategy from what was used in this study since the use of a qualitative research methodology alone can generate a biased picture.

Ngudo hei i sedzulusa nga ha khaedu dzo ambarelaho vhurangaphanda ha mbeu ya tshifumakadzini; kha zwikolo zwa Afurika Tshipembe. Ngudo iyi i dovha hafhu ya tutuwedza nga ha mawanwa a manwalwa ane a ri naho vhafumakadzi vho dalesa kha sia la pfunzo kha Afurika Tshipembe, a vho ngo imelelwa kha vhurangaphanda, zwihulwane kha maimo a thoho dza zwikolo. Ndi ngazwo zwo vhonala zwi zwa ndeme uri hu todisiswe zwithu zwine zwa nga vha zwivhangi zwa khaedu dza vhafumakadzi dzine dza vha thivhela uri vha vhe kha maimo a vhurangaphanda. Hu tshi shumiswa ngudo yo sendamelaho kha vundu la Gauteng kha muhasho wa pfunzo kha la Afurika Tshipembe; ngudo hei yo disendeka kha tsedzuluso ya ndeme. Kha matavhi mazhi o disendekaho kha tshifumakadzi, vhurangaphanda ho shandukaho, zwo shumiswa kha mawanwa na tsenguluso. Zwiko zwa mawanwa zwo vha zwo ditika nga maambiwa a bvaho kha vhanwe vhathu; na thodisiso ya mbudziso na kudzhielwe kwa zwithu zwi bvaho kha iwe mune. U pimiwa ho vhangwaho nga dwadze la Covid -19, zwo nanisa u dura ha mawanwa na u renga zwishumiswa zwa u vhala laiburari. Ngudo hei yo wanulusisa uri kha vundu la Gauteng, vhunzhi ha vhafumakadzi vha a kala u wanala kha maimo a vhurangaphanda. Zwinwe hafhu; ndi zwauri vha tangana na khaedu dzo fhambanano dzine dza ita uri vha disole arali vha kha vhurangaphanda kana vha pose tshovha. Izwi zwo khwathisedzwa kha ngudo iyi he kha zwikolo zwa rathi zwe zwa nangwa sa ngudo dzo randelwaho sia leneli; zwi nga vha zwa vharangaphanda vha tshinnani (67%), ngeno zwikolo zwivhili zwo vha na vharangaphannda vha tshifumakadzini (33%). Kha sia la tshanda tsha vhathusi vha thoho dza zwikolo, zwikolo zwiraru zwo wanala zwi na vhafumakadzi vha re tshanda tsha thoho dza zwikolo ngeno zwiraru zwo vha zwi na vha tshinnani. Ngudo hei yo dovha hafhu ya wana u ri khaedu dza u tsikeledza dzi ita uri vhafumakadzi vha shaye dora la vhurangaphanda kana u dzula vha kha maimo a vhurangaphanda. Thaidzo idzo, dzo toka midzi kha divhazwakale ya shango lashu yo sedzaho zwa u dzhiela zwa vharema fhasi na khetano nga lukanda, sialala na thendo dza vhurereli dzi tutuwedzaho u dzhiela vhanna ntha, thaidzo dza midini, zwithu zwa mishumoni sa u pfumbudza, tshumisano na thaidzo dza u pfumbudzwa, thaidzo dza muthu nga ene mune sa u shaya u difhulufhela, na u di dzhiela fhasi, pfunzo na u gudiswa, u shaya thikhedzo yo teaho, u sa vha na muya wa u difunga uri u ambe nga ha dengetenge line vhafumakadzi vha vha kha lo mishumoni, kushumele kwa vhuada, tshidivhano, tshandanguvhoni, tshishaka na khethululo yo sedzaho dzitshaka na zwinwe zwinzhi. Hei ngudo yo fhedza nga uri vhafumakadzi vha vharangaphanda kana vhane vha tama u vha kha vhurangaphanda, vha livhana na khaedu khulwane kha muhasho wa pfunzo vunduni la Gauteng. U lwa na hedzi khaedu, ngudo hei i dzinginya la uri hu vhe na vhurangaphanda ho shandukaho nga u dzhiela ntha mbeu dzothe. Hu dzinginywa la uri vhurangaphanda ho shandukaho, kha muhaso wa pfunzo vunduni la Gauteng, vhu tea u thoma ntha kha luta lwa muhasho vhu sathu u tsela fhasi zwikoloni. U shandukisa muhasho wa pfunzo wothe vunduni la Gauteng, sa tshipida tsha u lwa na thaidzo dzo ambarelaho mbeu ya tshifumakadzini zwikoloni zwi toda thikhedzo yothe kha muthu munwe na munwe kha lushaka lwothe. Zwihulwane ndi zwa uri zwi toda u ri hu dzhenelele polotiki. Hei pfunzo i bula u ri, u kandekanya pfanelo dza muthu, sa zwine zwa khou itelwa vhafumakadzi vha tshi kandeledzwa, a zwi nga anwi mitshelo sa izwi vnanna na vhafumakadzi vha tshi do lwa nayo. Vha do zwi sasaladza hu si u toda u xedza lushaka, fhedzi hu u ri zwi si khakhise na kutshilele kwavho sa izwi zwi tshi nga vha na masia nda itwa kha vhanna na vhafumakadzi. Thodisiso nnzhi dzi kha di tea u itwa vunduni la Gauteng dzo disendekahio nga u bvelela ha vhanna ri tshi vha vhambedza na vhafumakdzi. Izwi zwi nga kalea nga tshileme tsha u phasa ha vhagudiswa kana zwezwo zwine zwa nga shumiswa. Thodisiso i dovha hafhu ya todea ya uri ndi ngani muhasho wa pfunzo u tshi khou kokodza milenzhe siani la ndinganyelo dza maimo i kwamaho mbeu dzothe. U ri fhungo ili li lale, zwi nga todea u shandukisa ndila ine thodisiso ya nga vha yone yo fhambanaho na zwo gudwaho. U vha na kuhumbulele kwa uri thodisiso dza ndeme ndi dzone fhedzi dzine dza nga anwa mitshelo dzi dzothe zwi a xedza lushaka.

Dyondzo leyi yi lavisisa mintlhontlho ya varhangeri vaxisati eswikolweni swa Afrika-Dzonga. Leswi swi hlohloteriwile hi ku tshuburiwa eka tidyondzo to hlayanyana leswaku hambileswi vavasati va lawulaka xiyenge xa dyondzo ya Afrika-Dzonga va kumeka va nga yimeriwi ngopfu eka vurhangeri, ngopfungopfu eka xiyimo xa nhloko ya xikolo. Hikokwalaho, a swi ri swa nkoka ku lavisisa swilo leswi nga tirhaka tanihi mintlhontlho eka vavasati ku tlhandlukela eka swivandla swa vurhangeri. Ku tirhisa Ndzawulo ya dyondzo ya xifundzankulu xa Gauteng eAfrika-Dzonga tanihi dyondzo ya xiyimo, dyondzo leyi yi amukela ndlela ya xiyimo, endlelo ra ndzavisiso wa dyondzo ya xiyimo xo lavisisa. Ku hlanganisiwa ka tithiyori ya matlhelo manharhu, ku nga vufeminisi, dyondzo yaku cinca, na vurhangeri bya ku cinca, yi tirhisiwile ku kongomisa eka hungunyana ku lavisisa na ku xopaxopa. Xihlovo xa hungunyana leri a ku ri swihlovo swa vumbirhi xikan’we na ndzavisiso wa ku tirhisa empiriki, hi ku tirhisa mimbulavurisano leyi dzikeke ni ku xiyisisa ka munhu hi leswi swi xiyiweke. Swipimelo swa maendlelo leswi swi vangiweke hi Covid-19 swi katsa tihakelo to tala eka hungunyana hi ku xava swilo swa le layiburari. Nkambisiso wu kumile leswaku vavasati eka ndzawulo ya dyondzo ya exifundzheninkulu xa Gauteng va pfumaleka hi vunyingi ku suka eka swiyimo swa vurhangeri. Ku engetela kwalaho, va langutane ni swiphiqo swo tala leswi endleke leswaku va tisola hi ku va va ri eka swikhundla/swivandla swa vurhangeri kutani va tshika eka swona. Leswi swi tiyisiwile eka ndzavisiso lowu leswaku hi swihi swikolo swa tsevu leswi hlawuriweke tanihi tidyondzo ta timhaka, mune a ku ri na vavanuna tanihi tinhloko ta swikolo (67%) kasi i swikolo swimbirhi ntsena leswi a swi ri na tinhloko ta swikolo tani hi vavasati (33%). Mayelana na vaseketeri va tinhloko ta swikolo, swikolo swinharhu a swi ri na vaseketeri va vavasati kasi van’wana vanharhu a va ri va vinuna. Ndzavisiso lowu wu kumile leswaku mintlhontlho leyi nga ringaniki a yi ri kona leyi a yi sivela vavasati ku teka kumbe ku hlayisa mintirho ya swiphemu swa vurhangeri. Mintlhontlho leyi yi humelerile eka matimu ya tiko ya vukoloni na xihlawuhlawu, ripfumelo ra ndhavuko na vukhongeri lebyi hlayisaka vupatriyaka ku lwisana ni ntirho wa le kaya, swilo swa nhlangano, ku katsa na silingi ya nghilazi, ku letela, ku endla vuxaka bya le inthanete, na mintlhontlho ya vuleteri, swilo swa munhu hi xiyexe, ku katsa ni ku pfumala ku titshemba, ni ku tivona loku nga ri ki kahle, dyondzo na vuleteri, swivumbeko swa nseketelo leswi nga ringanelangiki, ku pfumaleka ka swa tipolitiki ku ta lulamisa xiyimo xa vatirhi vaxisati ni maendlelo lama nga ri ki ya mahanyelo lamanene, ku katsa ni vukungundzwana, ku va ni vuxaka bya rimbewu, na ku hambanyisiwa ka tinxaka exikarhi ka van’wana. Dyondzo leyi, xisweswo, yi gimete hi ku vula leswaku varhangeri va xisati kumbe lava va navelaka ku va na swivandla/swikhundla swa vurhangeri va langutane na mintlhontlho leyikulu eka Ndzawulo ya dyondzo ya xifundzhankulu xa Gauteng. Ku langutana ni swiphiqo leswi, xitsundzuxo eka ndzavisiso lowu xi ringanyeta ku tirhisiwa ko cinca ka vurhangeri, yi veka leswaku ku hundzuluka, hi mayelana na vurhangeri. Eka ndzawulo ya dyondzo ya le Gauteng, swi lava ku sungula eka xiyimo xa ndzawulo swi nga si fika ehansi ka xiyimo xa xikolo. Ku hundzula ndzawulo hinkwayo ya dyondzo ya xifundzhankulu xa Gauteng tani hi xiphemu xa matshalatshala ya nhlanganelo yo herisa mintlhontlho leyi vavasati va langutaneke na yona eswikolweni, swi lava nseketelo lowu hlanganeke wa un’wana na un’wana eka bodo hinkwayo. Ku suka eka xiyimo xa rixaka xa nkoka swinene, swi lava ku nghenelela la ka tipolitiki. Thesis yi veka leswaku ku va ni vuxiyaxiya lebyi byi susumeteleke emahlweni eka rimbewu ra vavasati, ngopfungopfu ehansi ka vuxiyisisi bya rimbewu eka vaxisati, a swi tikombi leswaku swi ta humesa mbuyelo wo karhi tani hi leswi vavanuna na vavasati va ta kanetana naswona. A va ta yi sola hi leswi a yi nga lavi ku kavanyeta vaaki ntsena kambe ni ku hlangahlanganisa vuxaka exikarhi ka vavanuna ni vavasati. Ndzavisiso wo tala wa laveka eka swiyimo swa vuhumelerisi bya vurhangeri eka xifundhankulu xa Gauteng eka ndzawulo ya dyondzo. Leswi swi nga pimiwa hi ku ya hi mimpimo yak u pasa kumbe swilo swin’wana leswi cinca cincaka. Ndzavisiso wu tlhela wu laveka eka leswaku hikokwalaho ka yini ndzawulo ya dyondzo ya lehansi yi ya emahlweni yi endla nhluvuko wa tingana eka vuyimeri bya rimbewu eka swivandla swa vurhangeri loko tindzawulo tin’wana tiri karhi tiendla nhluvuko, hambi leswi swi nga riki swa nkoka swinene. Eku kambisiseni ka timhaka leti, swinga va swa nkoka ku cinca maqhinga ya ndzavisiso ku suka eka leswi tirhisiweke eka ndzavisiso lowu tanihi leswi ku tirhisiwaka enlelo ra ndzavisiso wa xiyimo ntsena ri nga humesa xifaniso lexi nga na xihlawuhlawu ntsena.